Vard secures windfarm service vessel contract

Fincantieri subsidiary Vard has entered into a contract for the design and construction of a new windfarm service vessel for Ta San Shang Marine Company, a joint venture between Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and Taiwan’s Ta Tong Marine Company.

The vessel –- the first one of its kind to be built for the Asian market — will perform maintenance operations to be carried out by Ørsted at the Greater Changhua wind farms offshore Taiwan.

The main purpose of the vessel is to transfer personnel and spare parts within the wind farm, whilst also working as a moving base unit. It will have a length of 84.4 metres, a beam of 19.5 metres, diesel-electric propulsion, and accommodation for up to 87 people in single cabins.

Construction will take place at Vard’s Vung Tau shipyard in Vietnam. Delivery is scheduled for the first half of 2022.

The vessel will be Vard’s first vessel newbuilding project for the renewable energy sector.